Eternal Light

Eternal Light

The 2004 Philip and Sylvia Spertus Judaica Prize Competition

Contemporary artists from around the world offered visual interpretations on the spiritual meaning of light, in this exhibition of the winners and finalists of the leading international competition for Jewish ceremonial art.

The Spertus Judaica Prize is an award established in 1994 to recognize exemplary work and encourage new directions in Jewish artistic expression. The 2004 competition focused on the eternal light, ner tamid in Hebrew. This lamp is housed in Jewish synagogues, shining light on the ark that houses the Torah, Judaism's most sacred object. Twenty-seven outstanding adaptations of the ever-glowing lamp were selected by this year's jurors to illuminate the exhibition. Additional pieces were featured in a special hors de concours (out of competition) section to celebrate the competition’s 10th anniversary.

Special thanks to Philip and Sylvia Spertus for their outstanding generosity and support for this endeavor.

Spertus exhibitions are made possible, in part, by a CityArts Program Grant from the Chicago of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, The Northern Trust Company and The Mayer & Morris Kaplan Family Foundation. In addition, Spertus thanks the Benjamin J. Rosenthal Foundation and Mr. and Mrs. Donald Levison for their support of Eternal Light.